Bird & Bird

Cordless provided IT and AV Workplace Relocation Consultancy for a contemporary new HQ to allow Bird & Bird to grow its London headcount. Cordless delivered Visioning, Strategy, Procurement and Technology Implementation Project Management.

Technologies & Innovations

High specification wired and wireless network; onsite IT rooms; Unified Comms; meeting room audio, video and broadcasting; ‘follow me’ printing.

The Client

Bird & Bird is an international law firm, with a rare and invaluable grasp of strategic commercial issues. It combines exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge and refreshingly creative thinking, to help clients achieve their commercial goals. Bird & Bird has over 1,200 lawyers in 28 offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as close ties with firms in other parts of the world. There are three key things that set Bird & Bird apart from competitors: its deep industry knowledge, excellence in client service and international reach.

The Team

Trident, MCM, Taylor Project Services

Bird & Bird was looking to implement a forward-looking property strategy for its London HQ with innovative IT and AV technology that would mirror the firm’s vision to be the number one law firm in the world for organisations being changed by technology and the digital world.

With plans to grow its London headcount by 25% and a number of lease obligations reaching term concurrently, Bird & Bird wanted to take the opportunity to move from three separate offices to new 147,000 sq ft premises in the heart of London’s legal district.

For the three years in advance of and during the relocation project, Cordless Consultants (Cordless) was engaged as IT and AV Consultancy Partner to support the client from the initial creation of a future looking IT and AV vision through to the implementation of the technology into a contemporary and inspiring built environment.

Starting with a visioning process, Cordless helped Bird & Bird explore the possibilities for how IT and AV could help the office transition from a traditional cellular workplace layout, to a flexible, innovative and open style of working.

This led through to the workplace technology strategy, design, procurement and relocation project management of the Passive Infrastructure, AV, Desktop, Print and Active Network (LAN, Wireless LAN, Voice) packages.

Over the 12 floors of the new, modern and energy efficient building, Bird & Bird now benefits from open plan and collaborative working. There is a range of sizes of meeting room in the building, including smaller rooms for privacy. A dedicated Business Lounge is especially useful for international clients and Bird & Bird lawyers who find themselves in the area to grab a coffee, relax or catch up on some work.

New cross-practice working floors feature semi-transparent two-person workstations for lawyers rather than walled offices, with moveable partitions and furniture solutions to support different working configurations.

The building is heavily future-proofed for future changes with a high specification, resilient, high capacity infrastructure delivering connectivity to the users over a wired and wireless network.

All meeting spaces are kitted out with high quality AV, wireless, touch panel control and heavily integrated with a new Unified Communications (UC) solution.

The UC allows people to communicate seamlessly regardless of method, device or location. Communication methods include web conferencing, IP telephony, telepresence, and instant messaging and presence.

The AV solution is centralised, with the AV equipment installed in on-site IT rooms, allowing power efficiency and flexibility. Printing has been centralised to use ‘follow me’ print in alignment with the drive for greater print efficiency across the practice.

High quality audio and video conferencing services support an increased use of video. Technology within a bespoke seminar room is managed by a state of the art control room to support on-demand high profile broadcasting, conferencing and video streaming. This supports distribution of the seminar content – both live and on-demand.

The client has appreciated the ongoing support and advice of Cordless, right from the initial IT and AV visioning through to the final sign off and relocation.

With the help of Cordless, Bird & Bird has created a contemporary, flexible and welcoming business hub that better connects its clients, lawyers and business services staff – increasing mobility and providing flexibility as the firm grows and changes over the coming years. The building has achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for energy efficiency.

Mark Malone, Facilities Director at Bird & Bird said:

“I am very proud of what we have achieved in our new London HQ. Our workplace technology is central to curating the collaborative, flexible and welcoming working environment that supports excellence in everything we do. Cordless Consultants provided Bird & Bird with fresh thinking, sound technology advice and practical technical relocation project management from the very early project planning, right through to construction and business as usual.” 

Nicholas Perry, Head of London at Bird & Bird said:

“Our vision to be the number one law firm in the world for organisations being changed by technology and the digital world means Bird & Bird is an exciting place to be. Our London lawyers join forces on innovative projects with clients at the cutting edge of their industries and I have no doubt that the new collaborative working environment created at 12 New Fetter Lane will likewise excite and inspire our people as we move into the next phase of growth in London. This move offered us a once in a generation opportunity to anticipate how our people will meet and work together over the coming years. The planning around the build, fit out and way that we would work in this new space has given us the opportunity to create an agile and collaborative firm which supports an exciting time of growth for London.”